Container



Nov. 12, 1940. w. A. RINGLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 CONTAINER Filed Oct. 1]., 193'? ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1941). w. A. RINGLER CONTAINER Filed Oct. 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g slllgll sslssau ssz eeiii' INVEITITOR 5775551112 Fag/er ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1940. mNGLER 220,913

I CONTAINER Filed Oct. 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 [mum ATTORNEY in n 6 Patented' Nov. 1-2, 1940' urrao STATES common I William A. Bingler, Wayne, Pa aasignor to National Fol Box Company, New Haven,

Conn a oorpo tion or New Jersey Application October 11, 1937, serial No.-168,369

Thisv invention relates to containers, and more particularly to an economical and easily assembled container formed from paperboard material, adapted for the packaging of numerous 5 materials, articles and merchandise. I

In accordance with my invention, a container having substantial strength and rigidity can be economically m'a'de substantially entirely byautomatic machinery at low cost, the container being m constructed from a single body-forming blank and a pair of disc-shaped end wall members. When the body-forming blankis secured together in tubular form, the end members are supported in outwardlybulging grooves extending circumw ferentially around and adjacent each end of the tubular body member. These grooves may be rolled into the paperboard blank by means of male and female die rollers at a high rate oi speed. In the preferred form of my invention, spaced cuts traverse the circumferentially extending grooveawhich serve an important anduseful purpose. By the provision of these spaced cuts the grooves formed in the substantially flat blank will not flatten out or disappear when the as blank is bent into tubular form, but'in fact will be accentuated so as to provide a sturdy and rigid seat for the end closure member. The

transversely cut grooves also provide a laterally extending rim portion which serves to. cushion to any shocks delivered to the. packed container,

the grooves free and out of contact. The i grooves also serve to cushion the vertically stacked packed containers by importing a resiliency thereto which further protects the contents from .damage as the result of external shock. Numerous materials and articles of merao chandise can be packed in the container, and the container is particularly adapted for relatively bulky products. r

-My invention further provides a novel end closure for the container, comprising a pair of pivotally. connected disemembers which canbe relatively rotated so as to lock the end closure in he groove within which it seats. This end closure can also'be quickly removed to permit ac cess to the contents by a simple relative rotative movement of the pivotally connected disc membersto eflect withdrawal oi! a portion of the rim portion of said closure from its seated position in said groove so that the closure can be easily withdrawn. A novel handle member. formed from a single blink of p perboard material i also provided, which is strong and sturdy in construction .and economical to manufacture and assemble.

w The body member can be shipped to the user in the form of flat blanks, thus occupying a minimum space during shipment and storage. The tree side edges of the blank may be connectedby the user to provide arigid tubular body member, as by applying staples, stitching; adhesive or other securing meansto the free side 10 edges of the body-forming blank. It desired, the flat body-forming blank may be provided with cooperating interlocking slots and tab portions and interlocking hook and abutment portions which can be conveniently engaged by the 15 user to retain the body member in rigid tubular form.

- An object of this invention is. to provide a paperboard container requiring a minimum of paperboard material for. its construction and 20 which can be formed substantially entirely by automatic machinery at low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container which can be shipped to the user in flat, knockdown condition and which can .be' 26' easily and quickly assembled by the user as needed.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved body and end wall assembly for containers whereby the end member "is securely a methodo! assembling a tubular container by 0 the user from substantially flat blanks of paper- .board material, which assembly operation can be quickly and economically performed. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved method 0! grooving the body- 46 iorlning blanks preparatory to assembly thereof,

.Other objects oi! this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds. 7

Various other features and advantales oi. the

[invention will be apparent from the following to particular description and {roman inspection of; the accompanying drawings.

Although the: novel features 5 which are believed to be characteristic oi this invention will be particularly pointedout in'the op- 55 the wing portions will extend over the extremities of the slot II, as shown'in Fig. 6, and prevent withdrawal of the tab H from its locked position within the slot H. The upper rim portion 3 of the container may also be provided with means at the ends thereof for-rigidly holding the rim portion in fixed tubular form, which means may be similar to the means heretofore described as holding the ends of the rim portion-2 in fixed tubular-form. -More particularly, an arm portion ll extending from one end or the rim portion 3 is provided with a hook l2 adapted to be inserted into a notch [3 provided in the opposite end of the rim portion 3, and when thus inserted will engage an abutment portion l9 to prevent withdrawal thereof.

The end members of my tubularcontainer may comprise suitably shaped plates or discs which may be made of relatively stiff paperboard material, having the peripheral edges 25 thereof seated within the circumferentially extending groove provided in the tubular body'member. Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, the bottomforming end wall member C is of larger diameter than the diameter of the body portion l of the tubular member A, and more particularly its diameter being such that the peripheral edge 25 thereof will snugly seat within the outwardly bulging channelportion 4 and is thus locked and securely held in seating position within the channel by the overlying walls 26 and 21 of the channel portion 4. The end member B forming the top closure for the container is likewise of larger diameter than the diameter of the body portion I and particularly of such diameter that its peripheral edge 25 will snugly fit within the outwardly bulged channel portion 5 encircling the upper portion ofthe tubular body member. Thus the outwardly bulging side walls 26 and 21 of the channel portion 5 will overhang and abut the in Fig. 1 may be first connected together by 'inserting the tab l4 through the slot I! in the manner heretofore described. The' end member. Cforming. the bottom ofthe containermay then be inserted in this partially assembledtubuiar body member, care being taken toposition the peripheral edge 25 thereof in the outwardly bulging circumferential groove 4 provided in the body member. I The ends of the rim portion 2 may then be connected together by inserting the hook 9 into the notch ID in such a manner that thehook 9 will engage anabutment portion IS. 'The rim portion 2 thus fixedly connected into tubular form serves to lock the end member C in fixed contents-supporting position within the tubular body member. The contents may then be inserted through the open end of the tubular body member. The body member maybe filled up to the .channel portion 5. The end wall closure member B may then be inserted so that the pe-'- ripheral edge 25 thereof snugly seats within channel portion 5. The hook l2 may then be 'in-,.

serted into the notch n so as to engage the abutment portion l9, thus firmly locking the rim portion 3 in fixed tubular position.

The outwardly bulging channels or grooves 4 and 5 should be made of sufiicient depth to sup- 5 port the end wall members B and C and the contents, the groove depth required being to some extent determined by the size and weight of the contents to be inserted in the container. It will be noted, however, that the outward pressure of the contents on the end members B and C serve to further collapse the bulb portions 4 and 5 outwardly, causing the side walls 28 and 21 of the groove portions to clamp and rigidly hold the end members in fixed position within the grooves. Access to the contents may be had by'lifting the hook 12 out of engagement with the abutment portion 19 so as to permit expansion of the rim portion 3 and withdrawal of the closure disc I. Where the groove portion 5 is of not too great a depth the closure disc B can be removed by an upward pull on a tab portion 23 attached thereto, which removal is'further facilitated by the score line 22' which permits upward bending of the half portion 2|. 25

A sturdy, strong and serviceable container is provided adapted to be used for the packaging of numerous and sundry articles of merchandise as will be-evident to those skilled in the art. The packed containers are adapted to be stacked one upon the other during storage, shipment and display and can be assembled from the fiat blanks by the user as needed. The rim portions 4 and I of adjacent containers prevent contact of the body portions l thereof, the channel portions 4 and 5 thus providing a resilient medium which protects the delicate contents from breakage or damage during shipment of the packed containers. The end wall members are firmly locked in position and will support contents of substantial weight whether the container is supported in upright position as shown in Fig. 6 or in inverted position. The relatively stiff end wall members B and C maintain the container in the desired shape and prevent deformation thereof.

A somewhat modified form of container is illustrated in Fig. 13,'which container maybe assembled from a body-forming blank A, as shown in Fig. '7, having a circumferentially extending outwardly bulged groove- 4 which supports the bottom-forming end wall member 0', and a circumferentially extending outwardly bulged groove 5 which supports the closure-forming end wall member 3'. The blank A may be held together in tubular cylindrical form by any suitable securing means, a series of staples 28 being shown in Fig. 13 for purposes of illustration. It will be understood that stitchin adhesive or other securing means may also be used.

In assembling this container, the body-forming blank A is bent into tubular form and theside edges thereof secured together by staples 28, stitches, adhesive, or other securing means. The body-forming member C? is then inserted into the tubular container through the flange portion 2, by first seating a sector of the periphery 25 of the disc within the outwardly bulged groove 4 and then forcing by pressure the remaining sector of the disc into seating position within the groove 4. The bottorn forrning member C is thus held in fixed contents-supporting position by the overhanging side wall portions 26 and 21 of the groove 4 which extend over the outer rim portion 25 of the end wall member. After the container has been filled with contents, the cover-forming end 75 wall member B may be similarly inserted into rim portion 3 of the outer tubular member and so that the side wall portions 25 and 21 of the groove overhang the rim portion 25 oi! the end in fixed position.

If desired, a suitable handle member D"formed from a paperboard blank shown in Fig; 1 may be provided for association with the closed member B, which handlemember is inserted through a suitable slot provided in the end member B. The handle member may be formed from a single blank of paperboard comprising handle sections 3|. and 32 hinged together along a score 16 line 33. A foot portion extending laterally from the handle section 32 and hinged thereto along the score lines 35 is arranged to. seat against the inside face of the cover member B. A similar foot portion 34 hinged to the handle section 3| along the score line 35 also extends laterally against the inside face of the closure member B, the whole presenting the generally inverted T-shaped member as shown in Fig; 13. The foot portion 35 is provided with an extension 39 integrally formed therewith, which extension is out out from the handleforming blank along the cut lines 4| and.43

so that when the handle is assembled the extension 39 will underlie and brace the footpor- 30 tion 34. A similar extension 31 extends from the foot portion 34 and is defined by the cutlines 4| and 43,"extension 31 being arranged to overlie the foot portion 35. To provide the handle with a' comfortable hand grip, a flap 40 hinged to the handle section 32 along the score line 42 and otherwise freed 'from the handle section 32 by the cut lines 4| and .43, isadapted to be'folded inwa dly and upwardly, as shown in Fig. 13.- Simil rly, a flap portion 38 hinged to the handle section- 3| along the score line 42 and otherwise freedfrom the handle section 3| by the cut lines 4| and 43 is also adapted to be turned inwardly and upwardly, as shown in Fig. 13. Thus, the grip portion of the han- 5 die comprises fourlayers of paperboard, which produces a comfortably rounded hand grip for thehandle member and further strengthens the construction. The handle member thus assembled is inserted through the slot 30 of the closure member B so that the foot portions 34 and 35 extend laterally from the handle -sections 3| and 32 and thus provide a relatively flat support for the closure member B. The stifiening effect of the extensions 31 and 39 prevent collapse of the handle from its generally T-shaped formso that it is impossible to pull the handle through the slot 30 in the closure member B. To prevent the handle member from dropping inwardly through the slot 30, a pair of tapered shoulders 45 may be provided to extend laterally from each of the handlesections 3| and-32. The

immediatelybelow the shoulder portions- 45 to receive the end portions 29 of the closure member 25 adjacentthe ends of the slot 35.

The container shown in Fig. 13 can be inexpensively constructed from paperboard or fibrewall member B, thus securely locking the same of the blank being secured together by staples the cover-forming member B then inserted into rim sections 54.

ing, adhesive, or other securing means.

board material and the body-forming member and end wall-forming member shipped to the user in flat blanks, efiecting substantial economies in shipping and storage. The handle member D as shown in Fig. 10 can alsobe shipped to the user in flat extended blanks. When a container is needed the user can quickly assemble the body-forming blank A into tubular form upon a suitable'mandrel, the ends 28, stitches, adhesive, or other securing means. The end wall member C forming the bottom of the container can be quickly telescoped into position in the rim portion 2 of the body member, the container then filled with contents and upon the other and if the handle member has 20 1 been applied, the handle sections 3| and 32 of the handle member can be bent over out of the way. A sturdy and convenient transportation container, admirably adapted for the packaging of bulky products is thus provided.

The principles of my invention may also be applied to a polygonal-shaped container, as shown in Fig. 18, formed from a tubular bodyforming blank A adapted tobe shaped into tubular form, having the ends thereofclosed by a bottom-forming end wall member C and a cover-forming end wall member B The bodyforming blank A comprises a plurality of side wall panels 5| hinged together by spaced parallel extending score lines 52, bottom-forming rim' sections 63 each connected to the corresponding panel section'6| by an outwardly bulging channel portion 65. Similarly, rim sections 64. at the top of the container are each connected to corresponding side wall sections 5| by outwardly bulged channel portion 66. The channel portions are ln'nged to the bottom rim sec tions 63 and to the adjacent side wall section 5| by spaced circumferentially extending score lines 51 and B8, and similarly the channel portion 65 is hinged to the rim sections 54 at the top of the container and to the adjacent side wall sections 6| by spaced circumferentially extending score lines 5'l and 68, as shown more particularly in Fig. 14. To permit assembly of the fiat blank shown in Fig. 14 into tubular polygonal form, transversely extending cuts 59' traversing the channel portions 65 and 66 are provided, the cuts '59 extending between the spaced score lines 61 and 58'and in line with the scores 62 which define thepanel sections 6|. The score lines 52 also extend through the top and bottom rim portions of the container to define the bottom rim sections 63 and the top Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the body-forming blank in set-up tubular form, such as hook flaps, staples, stitch- For purposes of illustration, containers formed from blank shown in Fig. 14 may b provided with suitable securing tabs as shown in connection with the container assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 1. Y

In assembling the container shown in Fig. 18,

a tab 8|], whichis hinged to one of the end side insertion can be eflected by bending the wine v portions sl hinged to the tab as along the score lines 82 over the tab ll until full insertion has been accomplished. When the wing portions ll are then released the tab 80 will be locked in fixed position to the side wall. section ii provided with the slot 83 through which the tab 80 extends. vThe bottom-forming end wall member (3 may then be teleseoped orinserted through the bottom rim portion formed by the sections I! and this 0 bottom rim portion'may then be contracted and held in fixed tubular position so as to lock the end member C in iixed position byv inserting a hook ll provldedon an arm ll extending from one end of the rim portion through a notch." so

that the hook ll engages the abutment portion 13, all provided. on the lower rim portion ofthe container. The container is filled with contents and the. closure-forming end member 3* then inserted so as to seat within the outwardlybulging o channel portion to. The end member B may be provided with a diagonally extending score line s1 so as to permit bending of the sections 85 and.

as forming the end member. Suitable tab means is attached to one edge of theend member 13 may be provided to facilitate grasping ofthe end member to efiect removal thereof. The container here shown can be shipped to the user in the form of flat blanks, can be quickly assembled without necessitating special machinery and with a mini-- mum of time, and provides an attractive merchandise, and display container for numerous products. The containers can be stacked one upon the other in superimposed relationship during'shipment, storage'or display. It will be appreciated that pulverized or granular material can be packed in the containers shown in Figs. 6, 13 and 18 by providing a'suitable liner within the container.

I have shown in risers. 20 and 21 a modified the inside face of the container body; The cover 4o form of end closure 3 for a container of substantially cylindrical contour, such as illustrated in Flat. 6 and 13. This end closure is iormed from two separate discs which are pivoted together by a suitable rivet or located at the true diametrical M center of the cylindrical container. mob of the discs, ti and B2 is provided with a truly circular rimportlon it and "respectively, which extend a distance of at least 180 or more around each disc. The remaining rim portions 55 and so B1 or the discs M and I2 respectively are somewhat flattened so that they do not extend in a true circle. It willbe noted, however, that when the discs 6! and 82 are rotated sothat the circular rim portions Id of the disc II 'isvpositioned opposite the circular rim portion 5! of the disc 52.

a truly circular end closure member is provided.

larcontainer, such asshown in mg. a or Fig. 13, the disc members 8! and I! are so arranged that the circular edge portions II and I. are in-superimposed relationship. The end member B? can then readily be inserted in the container so that the superimposed circular rim portions 54 and It both seat within-the adjacent outwardly bulged channel portion I. It willbe 'notedthat an aperture 58 is provided in the upper disc member 52 into which a sultable'instrument may be inserted to facilitate rotation of the upper disc 52 a dis- 0 tance of approximately. 180 so as to position the circular rim portion I6 thereof into position op-- posite the circular rim portion 54 of the disc member 5|. During this rotative movement the cir cular rim portion 56 will move into the outwardly assume 5 member I! has been rotated at full 180 the comblned disc members II and I: completely enclose the container end with the peripheral edge portions it and ii of the end members. securely locked within the outwardly bulging groove por- 5 tion I.

Access to the contents of the container may be had by inserting an instrument through the opening .58 in'the upper disc member 52 and rotating the upper disc member I: to 'aposition wherein lo" the circular edge portion It thereof is positioned directly above the circular edg'eportion is of the bottom end or cover end of the container. or both,

as desired.

There is shown in Figs. 22 and 23: a ring member ill! cut out from relatively stiff, strong card- 35 board material seated within the channel 5 oi the body member A. The ring member I" may be seated within the channel portion 5 or the container body before the rim portion 3 of the body has been connected, and after insertion of the 39 ring member a staple I08 or other securing means may be provided to lock the ring member securely in position. The ring'member lllll provides a strong and sturdy, seat for a disc-shapedcover member I01 which may also be made of paper- 35.

board material. The cover member it! extends partially into the channel I of the container body and is held in place by the close seating abutment of the peripheral edge portion I08 thereof with' member lfll may be telescoped into the open end of the tubular body member and be forced into "seating position upon the ring member I05, and it may be removed from the container body by an upward pull thereon. The cover member I01 may be provided with a pull up tab if desired, such as the pull up tab 23 applied'to the cover member shown inl lgs; 15, 16 and 18. y

In manufacturing the body-forming blanks as shown in Figs. 1;? and 1i, largesheets or rolls s of relatively strong, tough paperboard or fibreboard material are provided, which sheets or rolls are cut into blanks of suitable size and-shape to form the tubular body member. The body-forming blanks are then passed through). suitable 88 Q grooving machine which forms the grooves or when mm: amend c108 at e 33 mu) a tub; channel portions along the top and bottom edges oi" the blank. This grooving mechanism, as

1 shown more particularly in Figs. 24 and 25. may

operating with the female rolls .0 and II respectively are also mounted upon separate shafts st. 66 The body-forming blank A is passed between the male-"and female rolls by either drawing the blank therethrough, or if desired the male and female rolls may be rotated by suitable driving means so as to roll them over opposite sides of 10 the blank as the blank is passed therebetween. The female rolls II are each provided with a suitable peripheral groove. II which receives the ex-- tended rimportion ll of the corresponding male rollsslsoastoformthechannelstandlinll 40 spending transverse die recess "8 extending the blank A. It will be noted that a slight lateral contraction of the blank A results due to the material required to make the grooves 4 and I. To

' prevent tearing of the blank it is preferable to so stagger the cooperating male and female rolls 94 and 90 with respect to the cooperating male and female rolls 95 and BI respectively so that this necessary lateral contraction of the blank can take place at spaced points, overcoming the necessity of placing unnecessary stretching or tearing stresses on the blank. i

Itwili be appreciated that when the grooves are formed in substantially flat blank A they would iron or'fiatten out when the blank is bent into tubular *form if means were not provided to prevent such flattening or ironing'out. By again referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that each of the outwardly bulging grooves land is provided with transverse cuts 1, and these cuts 1 permit the intermediate groove segments to freely buckle outwardly when the blank is assembled in tubular form. The cuts i may be provided in the blank A by means of suitable 001 operating male' andfemale rolls, the male roll having knives properly spaced around the Doriphery thereof which cooperate with suitable die cavities provided, in the periphery of the female roll? Such cuts may be provided in the bi either beforeor after the grooves 4 and 5 have been formed therein by the apparatus shown in Fig. 24.

There is shown in Fig. 25 a fragmentary por tion of a female roll 9,8 having a groove not extending around the circumference thereof which cooperates with a rim portion it! extending circumferentially around a male roll 98. The male roll is provided with circumferentially spaced transversely positioned cutting knives it! having a cutting edge adapted to seat within a corretransversely across the circumferential groove ltd of the female roll 98. when the female and male rolls 88 and 99 respectively traverse the blank, transverse cuts 1 are formed in the groove in the ail-blank. It will be understood that a pair of male and femalecutting rolls is provided for each groove to be formed in the blank. It will also be understood that the grooving of the blank and the transverse cutting of the-blank'may also be 50 preformed simultaneously by male and female grooving rolls also provided with transverse cutting knives. By means of the mechanism above described the grooving of the blank can be rapidly and economically performed. Itwill also'be 55 understood that bl of. the type as shown in Fig. 14 as well as blanks as shown in Figs. 1 and! maybe grooved and cut with the heretofore described. l

It is now seen that I have provided an imeoproved container formed fromthree blanks of paperboard material which, if desired, can be shipped in collapsed blank form and set up by the user as needed. The container-forming blank may be out from large sheets or rolls of e5 paperboard material substantially without waste,

with a minimum of board required for each container. The container may be made in cylindrlcal or polygonal form to'best suit the needs of the user; The body-forming blank is so con-.

70 structed as to be adaptedlfor quick a e bly by the user without the aid of special assembly machines. The assembled container is sturdy and strong in construction and is admirably adapted a for the packaging of numerous articlesof'mer- 75 chandise, either dry or'aemirr in n r 1 fixed, suspended position within the body memaa aam g as granular materials or relatively large objects.

If desired, a handle canbe provided for the container whereby the packed container may be convenien-tly carried or transported by the customer, the handle being so made as not to interfere with e the normal stacking of the packed container. While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and, are pointed out in the annexed claims. it will be' understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those smiled in'the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1 1 1. A container including, a tubular body member formed from a single blank of paperboardlo material, and end member of relatively stiff paperboard material positioned within said tubular body member to forma bottom for the container, said body member having an outwardly bulging circumferentially extending groove formed in the side wall thereof adjacent the bottom end providing a seat for the per'ipherai edge of said end member and defining a body portion and a rim portion. said groove having spaced cuts extending transversely'across said groove to permit outd collapse of said groove when load a pressure is applied upon said end member, said cuts having aler'igth not substantially greater than the width of said groove, said groove having side portions which overhang the peripheral edge of said end member, said body portion having a hook-forming tab integral with one end thereof cooperating with a slot adjacent the other end thereof for retaining the body portion in fixed tubular position, and said rim portion-having at as one end thereof an integral hook-forming tab cooperating with a notch adjacent the other end thereof for retaining the rim portion in fixed tubularposi-tion and to locksald end member in 40 her upon insertion thereof.

2. A container including, a body-forming blan of paperboardmaterial having a body portion,

.top and bottom rim portions, and an outwardly bulging groove connecting each of said rim portions to said body portion, said body portion having an integral section extending,from one end of the blank beyond the adjacent ends of said grooves to provide means'for attaching .the ends of the body portion together in fixed tubular form, each of said rim portions having an integral tab extending from one end of the blank beyond the adjacent ends of said grooves to provide means for attaching the ends of said rim portions together in fixed tubularform whereby the ends of said grooves are substantially in abutting position when said body portion and said rim portions are attached in fixed tubular form, and arelatively stifi end closure member positioned j within each end of said tubular body and seat- 60 log. within the adjacent groove, said grooves each having spaced cuts extending transversely across the grooves to permit outward collapse of said grooves when .'loa d pressure is applied upon said closure member, said cutshaving a length not. 5 substantially greater ban the width of the grooves through which ey extend;

3. A container including, a'tubular body member of polygonal cross-section formed from a sin gle blank of paperboardmaterial comprising a body portion and rim portions, said body portion having foldllnes defining connected side wall panels, each of said rim portions being connected to the" body. portion by an outwardly bulging groove, said grooves having transversely'eltendcuring the free ends of said body portion together in fixed tubular form comprising an integral tab extending from one end of the-body portion cooperating with means at the other end of the body portion, and separate interlockin means associated with each of said rim portions for securing the free ends of said rim portions together in flxedtubular form upon insertion of the corresponding closure disc thereth'rough, comprising a tab extending from the end of each rim portion and cooperating with means at the other end of the corresponding rim portion.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER. 

